Why is biodiversity important in environmental management?

Biodiversity is a crucial aspect of environmental management because it enhances ecological resilience and supports various ecosystem services. A diverse biological community ensures that ecosystems can withstand and recover from disturbances, such as climate change, natural disasters, and human impacts, thereby maintaining their functionality and productivity over time.

Moreover, biodiversity contributes to ecosystem services—these include essential processes like pollination of crops, water purification, carbon sequestration, and soil fertility. A diverse array of species ensures that these services are effectively provided and can adapt to changing conditions. The loss of biodiversity can undermine these services, leading to degradation of ecosystems and diminished quality of life for human populations that rely on them.

The other options misrepresent the role of biodiversity. While option A suggests that biodiversity complicates ecosystem services, this overlooks the essential and beneficial roles that diverse species play in maintaining those services. Option B implies that biodiversity serves only large corporations, disregarding the broader ecological and societal benefits that biodiversity provides to all communities. Lastly, option D erroneously states that biodiversity is irrelevant to human well-being, which contradicts substantial scientific evidence demonstrating that a healthy and diverse environment is vital for human health, food security, and overall quality of life.